"Your Majesty, the General Staff plans to deploy the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Legions in the campaign to eliminate the guerrilla forces in the east. These four legions, totaling over 800,000 men, should be more than sufficient to wipe out these insurgents. However, according to the intelligence we have gathered, many of these guerrilla bands are backed by the Bolshevik faction in Russia. In fact, many of them are directly under their command," Marshal von Falkenhayn reported.
"In that case, we cannot afford to leave them be. We must utterly eradicate these guerrilla groups. Only then can we proceed with the development of the east with confidence. In the governance of the newly acquired eastern territories, we must adopt a strategy of divide and conquer. Some will be won over, others must be crushed! Those who are willing to pledge loyalty to the Empire and serve it will be treated well, while those who oppose us will be utterly destroyed—either sent to toil in the fields or the mines!" QinTian declared.
Much of the land in the eastern territories of the Empire was unclaimed, and the German government had directly annexed it, establishing state-owned farms and mines. The primary labor force would consist of prisoners of war. The next step would be to cleanse the entire region, sending all those who resisted the Empire to the farms and mines to labor. In this way, even those opposed to the Empire could be put to use.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Marshal von Falkenhayn nodded in agreement.
"How is the transportation network for the eastern territories that I had the cabinet plan?" QinTian inquired.
The transportation infrastructure in the lands ceded by Russia to Germany was in a dire state. Had it been adequate, Russia's military would not have struggled so much to mobilize forces to the front lines once the war broke out. The poor transportation posed a significant hindrance to the Empire's plans for development. As the saying goes, 'To prosper, first build the roads.' Although Germany did not particularly desire the local population to thrive, the Empire was in dire need of the resources from these regions. Only with improved transportation could these resources be brought back to the homeland.
Furthermore, if the Empire were to go to war with Russia in the future, these eastern territories would become the front lines. Without efficient transportation, the Empire's ability to mobilize troops and transport war supplies would be severely compromised, which would be disastrous for the war effort.
In another timeline, Napoleon's failed Russian campaign and Hitler's Operation Barbarossa had one major commonality: the vastness of Russia. The Russian tactic of trading space for time had long been a hallmark of their military strategy. By seizing large swaths of territory once held by Russia, Germany had shortened its logistical lines considerably. This, in turn, would provide a distinct advantage in any future conflict with Russia.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Transport has completed the preliminary planning," the Minister of Transport responded.
He promptly handed over the planning document to QinTian.
The plan was divided into two parts: the first focused on railways, the second on highways. Germany's railway network was densely packed, and its total operational mileage ranked among the highest in the world. This was why Germany had been able to swiftly move its forces to the front during the war. The importance of the railway construction in the eastern territories was not lost on the Empire.
The Ministry of Transport's plan called for the construction of three major railways. The first would run from Königsberg in East Prussia into the Baltic States, with main and branch lines connecting the capitals and major cities of the Baltic countries. This would make an attack from Narva in Estonia toward St. Petersburg only about 100 kilometers away. The fact that the Baltic States were now part of Germany was a major factor in Russia's decision to move its capital from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
The second railway would connect Berlin to Warsaw, then Minsk, and stretch all the way to the new eastern border. Although this would still leave a distance of 600-700 kilometers to Moscow, it would reduce the distance by several hundred kilometers compared to a direct route from Poland.
The third railway would extend from Warsaw and Minsk to Kiev, and then from Kiev to eastern Ukraine. This line would serve not only to solidify Germany's control over Ukraine but also to facilitate military operations in Russia's southern regions, including the Don River Basin and the Caucasus. The Baku oil fields, in particular, were a prized target for QinTian. While Germany already controlled significant oil reserves, including those in the Middle East after defeating Britain, no one would turn down additional resources. Capturing the Baku fields would deny Russia its key oil supplies, weakening its military capacity—after all, without sufficient oil, planes, tanks, and trucks would be little more than scrap metal.
The completion of these three railways would greatly enhance the Empire's control over its newly acquired territories. Furthermore, should war with Russia break out, these railways would facilitate the swift transportation of war supplies, reducing logistical pressures.
Compared to the railway plans, the highway plans were even more extensive. There would be a network of roads from the German homeland and East Prussia to the Baltic States, Berlin, Belarus, and Ukraine, with dozens of highways planned. Unlike the crude dirt roads used by Russia, these would be modern, cement-paved highways of the highest standard, ensuring that German trucks could move swiftly. Whether transporting troops or war supplies, the flow of resources would be much faster and more efficient.
In the event of a full-scale war with Russia, the Empire would likely deploy millions of troops. The logistical demands of such a large force would be staggering. Reliance on rail transport alone would be insufficient, so the highway network would be a crucial supplement.
"Excellent. How long will it take to complete the construction of these railways and highways?" QinTian asked.
"Your Majesty, according to the plan, it will take at least ten years to complete the construction," the Minister of Transport replied.
"Ten years? That's far too long!" QinTian exclaimed.
"Your Majesty, there is little we can do. If we manage to finish within ten years, it will be nothing short of a miracle," Prime Minister von Bülow said.
QinTian paused, realizing that the technology of this era was nowhere near as advanced as in later periods. The challenges of constructing so many railways and highways were immense, and completing them within ten years would be the result of the utmost effort. A war with Russia, he thought, would be best timed ten years from now.